If Family History Work is Hastening, What Happened to You?

Quoting from the Foundations of the Restoration Teacher Manual, Lesson 28: Hastening the Work of Salvation, Introduction:

In recent years, Church leaders have emphasized the Lord’s prophecy that He will “hasten [His] work” (D&C 88:73). The work of salvation includes member missionary work, convert retention, activation of less-active members, temple and family history work, and teaching the gospel.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we hear more and more about a hastening of the work. This "hastening" process involves developments and processes that affect the entire world. However, we may personally be missing out on the entire process. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency in an April 2014 General Conference address entitled, "Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?" as follows:

When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly that of an observer?

 The Lord is the one hastening the work. Quoting Doctrine and Covenants, Section 88: 73,

73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.

It is up to us to choose to be bystanders or participants. Temple and family history work is clearly part of the work that is being hastened. What is the evidence that the work is being hastened? Perhaps I can list a few examples:

• The number of global smartphone shipments is forecast to increase in 2018 to over 1.5 billion units a year. See Statistica: Global smartphone shipments forecast from 2010 to 2021 (in million units)*
• FamilySearch.org has now released three different versions of the Family Tree program with one especially written for people using smartphones and tablets. See Three Ways to Use Family Tree by Ann Tanner
• Microfilm shipments from FamilySearch.org are being discontinued as of September 1, 2017.
• FamilySearch.org is predicting that all of the available existing microfilm rolls will be digitized by 2020. 
• MyHeritage.com, a FamilySearch partner website, announced that their record collections just went over 8 billion records worldwide. 
• Findmypast.com, another FamilySearch partner website, just added 4.3 million U.S. marriage records on its way to adding 100 million marriage records containing 450 million names from 2,800 counties across the U.S.

The list could go on and on. Don't sit on the sidelines and watch the game. Get involved. If you don't know where to start, look at The Family History Guide for help in learning what you can do.